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🍕 New Neuropizza is coming on 12th November 2026❗NEUROPIZZA 👉 As part of the Scientific Thursdays seminar series at the Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, we are delighted to invite you to another Neuropizza meeting! This time, we will have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Renate Rutiku, who will give a talk titled "Two Lives of Visual Working Memory: Evidence for Distinct Conscious and Unconscious Representations."
📢 Abstract:
Visual working memory (vWM) is often linked to conscious experience and visual imagery, but it is typically described as a system that stores separate, independent items. These assumptions are difficult to reconcile, given the unified nature of conscious experience. Here, we test the hypothesis that vWM relies on at least two distinct representations: an underlying, unconscious memory trace and a consciously accessible, integrated representation.
A total of 216 participants performed a change-detection task, in which they rated their perceptual awareness of the memory display during the maintenance interval. Critically, we manipulated the statistical properties of the displays (average item size and size variability) to probe sensitivity to unified ensemble-level structure. Results revealed a dissociation between subjective and objective measures. Perceptual awareness increased for displays with larger, more variable items, whereas objective performance improved for displays with smaller, less variable items.
Despite this difference, subjective awareness still predicted performance, and even incorrect responses showed consistent biases rather than random guesses. Importantly, individual differences in imagery vividness (VVIQ) were selectively associated with subjective awareness and estimation bias, but not with objective correctness. These precision biases were further shaped by display statistics, suggesting that multiple representations can guide behavior.
Together, our findings support a reinterpretation of vWM performance in which task responses can draw on both unconscious and consciously accessible representations. One possible explanation for these behavioral patterns is that subjective experience reflects integrated, ensemble-like representations, while objective performance depends more strongly on item-specific information.
⌚ When?
Thursday, 12th November 2026, 2:00 PM
📌 Where?
Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University
Room 0.01
Romana Ingardena Street 6, Kraków
ℹ️ NEUROPIZZA is a brown bag seminar providing a space to discuss brain research across neuroscience, biology, psychology, medicine, and biomedical engineering. The aim is to create an interdisciplinary environment for sharing ideas, exchanging knowledge, and fostering engaging discussions!
The event is organized by the Institute of Psychology UJ, Sano Centre for Computational Medicine, Centre for Brain Research UJ and the Cognitive Science Students (KNS Kognitywistyki UJ).
Join us for an interesting talk, inspiring discussions, and, of course, pizza! 🍕🧠
🔗 More information: https://psychologia.uj.edu.pl/naukowe-czwartki
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ul. Ingardena 6, 30-060 Kraków, Poland, ulica Romana Ingardena 6, 30-060 Kraków, Polska, Krakow, Poland
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